Blagojevich and the mammogram defense

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For those having Rod Blagojevich withdrawal, he popped up again on the airwaves this morning to hammer home his innocence — just in case anyone missed the media blitz last week.

Blagojevich was ousted as governor of Illinois amid accusations he tried to sell the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

“It was an unlawful and improper impeachment. So I don’t view myself at all as being shamed or disgraced,” Blagojevich said in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show.

“I view myself, frankly, as being someone who fought real hard for the people and was removed from office because something happened. It was a political opportunity,” he said.

Watch out Washington. If he is indicted and there is a federal trial Blagojevich said he wants “everybody and anybody” that he talked to about the Senate seat to come and tell the truth, including Obama’s chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and senators Dick Durbin and Harry Reid.

“I did not intend to commit any criminal act. I’m not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing. And I’m eager to have my day in court to prove my innocence,” Blagojevich said.

The former governor shows no signs of drifting quietly into the woodwork.

”Did I attempt to sell a U.S. Senate seat? The answer is flat out, unequivocally no way, no,” he said. ”As you know, it’s not appropriate to comment on pending cases, and I’m not going to do that. But absolutely not. ”

Then the unemployed politician capped his spirited defense by turning to women’s issues.

“I’ve had a chance to be a governor in a big state, and give all of our kids health care, give all of our senior citizens free public transportation, give all uninsured women mammograms and pap smears so they can save their lives.”

“I’ve had a chance to be a governor in a big state, and give all of our kids health care, give all of our senior citizens free public transportation, give all uninsured women mammograms and pap smears so they can save their lives.”

Author Profile

Toby covers national security. She used to run the Front Row Washington politics blog, was a White House correspondent during President George W. Bush's second term, and has covered intelligence, defense, foreign policy, and Congress. As Dallas correspondent she covered the stand-off in Waco. Early years in New York were spent covering financial markets and New York Fed.